Which place is cheaper, Wellington or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Lhasa or Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Wellington? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lhasa or Wellington?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
-
Lhasa Prices
China PricesWellington Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $91Wellington $124
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $124. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lhasa and Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Wellington $60
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Wellington $120
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Wellington? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.60Wellington $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Wētā Workshop Guided Tour Ticket + Transfer: $58
- Wellington Airport(WLG) to Wellington-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $156
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $106
- Private Transfer from Wellington Port to Wellington Airport (WLG): $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington Port: $26
- Private Large SUV Airport Transfers Wellington - Executive Travel: $58
- Private Airport Transfer Service Vice Versa in Wellington by SUV: $75
- Wētā Workshop Guided Transfers & Tour: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington and Lhasa change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
-
Food Meals for one dayLhasa $46Wellington $51
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 3 Hour Walking Food Tour: $126
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Wellington $16
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland: Wētā Workshop Unleashed Creative Classes Ticket: $38
- Axe Throwing Lesson and Tournament: $33
- Craft beers & car museum - Half Day Tour incl beverage samples: $99
- Craft beers & car museums - Full Day Tour incl beverage samples: $168
- Discover Wellington 3 hour City Tour : $53
- From Half-Day Foodie Tour of the Wairarapa: $110
- From Kapiti Island Classic Guided Day Tour: $292
- From Martinborough Winery Tour: $112
- From Remutaka Rail Trail eBike Tour: $129
- Full Day Guided Wellington Tour including Cable Car: $150
- Full Day Lord of the Rings Tour: $177
- Full Day Tour of Wellington: $177
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.01Wellington $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $100
- From Martinborough Wine Tasting Tour: $170
- Exclusive Martinborough Wine Tour: $210
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $395
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Wellington, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Lhasa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Lhasa is in Asia and Wellington is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Lhasa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lhasa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington than you might in Lhasa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Wellington?
Wellington has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Wellington, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.